"We've left those parishes and have found common cause among ourselves," Renshaw said. "We are having a hard time accepting the theological changes that the majority of Episcopalians are taking. We've decided that we're no longer part of the Episcopal Church in America, but we're aligning ourselves theologically with the greater Anglican Communion."

Christie Meredith Wills, a spokeswoman for the Episcopal Diocese of Southwestern Virginia, said of the group's departure from area churches: "We're sad that they left, but we pray that they will go with God and find what they were looking for."

Fissures are emerging across the country, with six traditionalist dioceses and some parishes choosing to break away from the Episcopal Church because of differences over same-sex unions and an openly gay bishop.

The six dioceses are a tiny portion of the Episcopal Church's 110 dioceses and 2.3 million members.

Renshaw said his group's first service is at 9 a.m. Sunday at 318 Church Ave.

He said the group started meeting in people's homes nine months ago and is looking for permanent quarters. He said the group "isn't engaging in those debates" on gender issues.

"We want a spiritual home that provides the biblical nourishment that we've essentially grown up with all our lives," he said. "The Episcopal Church, for us at least, no longer provides this."

Bishop Neff Powell, head of the Southwestern Virginia diocese, held five meetings in the region last week before heading to England, where he is on a pilgrimage. About 200 people attended the meetings to discuss concerns arising from last month's Episcopal General Convention in Columbus, Ohio.

There is growing polarization over the direction of the Episcopal Church. So far, ripples aren't too apparent regionally.

"We're not aware of any splits in any of our 57 churches rising to the level of threats over the church's direction," Wills said. "People in the parishes would rather put their energies into work for justice and peace rather than fighting over property or sexuality."

Sammy Oakey, of Oakey's Funeral Service & Crematory, confirmed that the Live Oaks fellowship will use its chapel for a few months.

"It is not unprecedented. We've allowed other churches to use our chapel while they put together a new congregation," Oakey said. "I was very careful to speak to the bishop and several Episcopal priests before this went forward on our part."

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